Rotary drill rod

ABSTRACT

The drill rod comprises an elongated pipe having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough and an annular bit at the distal end thereof. The proximal end portion of the bore is adapted to slidably receive a piston-like means therein, but there is an annular shoulder about the periphery of the bore at the terminus of said portion to engage the means in the rod adjacent the bit. There are also means defining an annular seat about the periphery of the bore between the shoulder and the mouth of the bit, which is of lesser inside diameter than that of the shoulder, to engage an elongated member which is slidably inserted into the distal end portion of the bore through the opening in the shoulder when the piston-like means is engaged with the shoulder. The distal end portion of the bore has substantially the same diameter as the opening in the shoulder, but there is fluting in the peripheral wall of the bore, which extends generally longitudinally thereof between a point adjacent the shoulder and a point about the periphery of the seat, and porting in the body of the bit, which extends generally axially thereof between the fluting and the working face of the bit at the distal end thereof. Together, the fluting and porting form a passage about the member through which fluid can be released into the working face of the bit from a point adjacent the opposite end of the member. Additionally, the bit has a greater diameter than the pipe and is adapted so the released fluid can discharge from the face of the bit toward the proximal end of the pipe on the opposite side of the pipe from the member.

United States Patent Sweeney July 8, 1975 ROTARY DRILL ROD longitudinally extending bore therethrough and an annular bit at the distal end thereof. The proximal end portion of the bore is adapted to slidably receive a piston-like means therein, but there is an annular shoulder about the periphery of the bore at the terminus of said portion to engage the means in the rod ad the bit. There are also means defining an annul Inventor: Gerald T. Sweeney, Federal Way,

Wash.

jacent ar seat [73] Assignee: Tigre Tierra, lnc., Puyallup, Wash.

Filed: June 3, 1974 PP 475,593 about the periphery of the bore between the shoulder Related us. Application Dam and the mouth of the bit, which is of lesser inside diy I ameter than that of the shoulder, to engage an elon- [62] g' 'i g'gg 283208 gated member which is slidably inserted into the distal end portion of the bore through the o shoulder when the pistonpening in the like means is engaged with in. f.?..i..TFZilJZ/ZS ehe eheeleee The eieel. end Pereee ef e t hee 1'75/58 b 236 246 substantially the same diameter as the opening in the shoulder, but there is fluting in the peripheral wall of 71 I l9 I5 132 92 the bore, which extends generally longitudinally thereof between a point adjacent the shoulder and a [52] US. Cl........ [58] Field of Search 175/257, 389, 390; 173/73, 80, 9i, 72, 78,

point about the periphery of the seat, and porting in the body of the bit, which extends generally axially een the fluting and the working face of thereof betw the bit at the distal end thereof. Together, the fluting and porting h which fluid form a passage about the member throug "w m mL e KM 01! 77 99 NH O02 2 0 l 45 26 55 33 can be released into the working face of 3 295 l/I972 Cobbs....... [75/257 e the bit from a pomt ad acent the opposite end of the 3 260 8/1972 [75,92 member. Additionally, the bit has a greater diameter than the pipe and is adapted so the released fluid can Primary Examiner-James A. Leppmk h f h f f h d h I Attorney Agent or Firm-Christopher Duffy arge q e aceo t t e Proxlma end of the pipe on the opposite side of the pipe from the member.

[57] ABSTRACT The drill rod comprises an elongated pipe having a 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ii/3910515 #151255 its:titiiitt it. i

MTEWTFHJUL 8 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 591/0001 IIIII ROTARY DRILL ROD This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 283,208, filed Aug. 23, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,539.

THE INVENTION IN GENERAL According to the invention, the drill rod comprises an elongated pipe having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough and an annular bit at the distal end thereof. The proximal end portion of the bore is adapted to slidably receive a piston-like means therein, but there is an annular shoulder about the periphery of the bore at the terminus of said portion to engage the means in the rod adjacent the bit. There are also means defining an annular seat about the peiphery of the bore between the shoulder and the mouth of the bit, which is of lesser inside diameter than that of the shoulder, to engage an elongated member which is slidably inserted into the distal end portion of the bore through the opening in the shoulder when the piston-like means is engaged with the shoulder. The distal end portion of the bore has substantially the same diameter as the opening in the shoulder, but there is fluting in the peripheral wall of the bore, which extends generally longitudinally thereof between a point adjacent the shoulder and a point about the periphery of the seat, and porting in the body of the bit, which extends generally axially thereof between the fluting and the working face of the bit at the distal end thereof. Together, the fluting and the porting form a passage about the member through which fluid can be released into the working face of the bit from a point adjacent the opposite end of the member. Additionally, the bit has a greater diameter than the pipe and is adapted so that the released fluid can discharge from the face of the bit toward the proximal end of the pipe on the opposite side of the pipe from the member.

The pipe may be operatively rotated, and the bit may be engaged on the distal end of the pipe to rotate in conjunction therewith. In fact, the bit may be rigidly connected to the distal end of the pipe.

Preferably, the seat is formed in the bit. Also, the fluting preferably opens into both the porting and the seat so that the fluid operates to flush the seat until the member is engaged therewith. For example, where the bit is rigidly connected to the distal end of the pipe, the seat may take the form of a conical socket at the juncture of the pipe and the bit, having mutually aligned series of relatively angularly-spaced flutes and ports opening thereinto, and into one another, at the outer peripheral rim thereof.

The flutes preferably terminate short of the shoulder so that the passage and the shoulder are closed to one another.

In the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, the bore has a series of rectilinear flutes which are symmetrically angularly spaced about the peripheral wall thereof. The bit has a series of symmetrically angularly spaced ports in the body thereof, which are mutually aligned with the flutes but canted thereto.

The bit may be a percussive bit and may have percussion points thereon which project relatively beyond the outer periphery thereof to enable the fluid to discharge therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These features will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a part longitudinal cross-sectional view of one of my presently preferred embodiments of the invention, as it is seen in use with a core drilling apparatus employing a hammer-driven, down-the-hole drive means which in FIG. 1 is in the bottomed condition thereof;

FIG. 2 is another such view of the embodiment when the drive means is in the upstroke thereof;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1',

FIG. 4 is another part longitudinal cross-sectional view when the drive means has been retracted from the drill rod; and

FIG. 5 is a part perspective view of the bit employed in the drill rod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the drill rod comprises an elongated, fluid pressurized pipe 2, which is assembled from equal-diameter sections that are perhaps 10 feet in length and threaded and flushcoupled to one another as illustrated. With the exception of the interior of the bottommost or distal end section 2' of the pipe the sections are otherwise similar to one another, and are added to and subtracted from the rod as is necessary during the drilling operation. The distal end section 2' differs, however, in that it has a stepped or counterbored interior configuration which forms an inner peripheral shoulder 3 at a point near the top thereof. The shoulder serves as an abutment for the drive means 4, which is retractable from the rod, as shall be explained; and which includes a standard, fluid-operated down-the-hole hammer mechanism 5.

The pipe is pressurized and driven by a conventional drilling mechanism, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,391 ,543, and is typically driven at slow speeds such as It) RPM, that is, at speeds simply sufficient to index the percussion bit 7 seen at the bottom or distal end of the pipe. The bit 7 is annular in configuration, and has an interiorly threaded collar 8 at the upper end thereof, that flush-couples to the distal end section 2' of the pipe. Below the collar, however, the bit is flared radially outwardly and forms an enlarged head 10 which terminates with a flat-faced annulus 12 at the working end thereof. The annulus has sets of buttonlike percussion points 14 seated in raised condition thereon, which are spaced apart in angularly spaced, clockwise, convolutional lines that are symmetrically arranged about the axis of the bit. See FIG. 5. In addition, the endmost points 14 on each line, are seated in the head so as to project slightly inside and outside of the inner and outer peripheries of the annulus, respectively. As a consequence, when the rod is rotated and hammered into an earth formation 16, the bit excavates an annular recess the outside diameter of which is not only greater than the outside diameter of the pipe itself, but also greater than the outside diameter of the flared head 10 of the bit. Likewise, the core 18 of earth material which is captured within the end of the rod, has an outside diameter of slightly lesser dimension than the inside diameter of the head of the bit.

Otherwise, the bit has a stepped or counterbored interior configuration forming an annular shoulder 20 inside of and about the bottom end of the collar 8. The interior of the bit also has another annular shoulder 22 therebelow, which is of lesser inside and outside dimensions than the shoulder 20, by virtue of there being an inwardly chamfered surface 24 at the bottom of the cylindrical socket 26 separating the two shoulders. The lower shoulder 22 and the socket 26 form a seat for a core barreling tube 40 on the drive means, as shall be explained; whereas the upper shoulder 20 has an annular groove 30 recessed therein, from which a series of symmetrically angularly spaced ports 32 open through the body of the head to the working face 12 of the bit, between the points 14 thereon. The ports are also canted to the axis of the head, and are so angled into the shoulder that they open into the socket 26.

During the drilling operation, the compressed fluid is intermittently discharged to the ports 32 to flush the removed earth material back through the clearance 34 between the pipe 2 and the wall of the excavation. The fluid reaches the ports through a series of passages 36 which are formed within the drive means and the distal end section 2' of the pipe, as shall be explained more fully hereinafter.

The drive means 4 also includes an annular anvil 38 which is slidably engageable in the upper, thinner walled portion of the distal end section 2', and sized to seat on the shoulder 3. The core barreling tube 40 is slidably engageable in the bore 42 of the lower, thicker walled portion of the section 2', and suspended from the anvil to seat relatively rotatably within the socket 26 of the bit. The tube is equipped with a bushed, ball bearing mounted swivel head 44 on the upper end thereof, and the bushing 46 of the head is slidably engaged on, but rotationally keyed to a flanged swivel pin 48, which is fastened upright to the underside of the anvil. Moreover the keyway 50 for the bushing, and the length of the bushing, are sized in relation to the pin, to allow for play between the tube and the anvil, axially thereof; and a coiled spring 52 is interposed about the bushing 46, between the head and the underside of the anvil, to bias the tube in the downward direction, toward the flange 48' of the pin. Thus, when the drive means 4 is lowered into the bore of the pipe 2, the tube 40 is urged to seat within the bit, both by the spring 52 and by the force of gravity; yet it is also free to undergo displacement in relation to the anvil, where there is earth material lodged within the bit. The earth material may be dislodged, however, either by the anvil, or by the fluid discharge, or by both, as shall be explained hereinafter.

In addition to being adapted to mate with the bit, the forward end portion 40'of the tube 40 is also adapted to lift or separate the core 18 from the earth formation when the drive means 4 is retracted from the bore of the pipe. The tube 40 is formed in two threaded and flushed-coupled parts, the more forward 40' of which is chamfered at the end, so as to mate with the chamfered socket 26 of the bit, and form an essentially air tight joint therebetween. The more forward portion 40' also has an upwardly and outwardly tapered surface 54 formed between the cylindrical mouth 56 and the threaded collar 58 of the same; and when the two parts of the tube are assembled, a tapered wedge-like annular core lifter 60 is inserted within the more forward portion, to perform the core lifting and separating function in conventional fashion.

The outer cylindrical surface 62 of the anvil is closely machined to form a fluid seal with the bore of the pipe. Above the surface, however, the anvil is swaged inwardly and provided with a filletecl shoulder 6 thereabout, from which a nipple-like shank or embossment 66 is upstanding on the axis of the anvil, and equipped with a wide circumferential groove 68 thereabouut. The bore 70 of the anvil is counterbored from above and below, and the upper counterbore 72 of the same is adapted to interengage with the hammer mechanism, as shall be explained, whereas the lower counterbore 74 provides a socket for the swivel pin 48, which is secured in the socket by means of a dowel 76.

The hammer mechanism 5 is a modified version of a standard down-the-hole air hammer mechanism, comprising an outer tubular casing 78 having a pipe hammer 80 reciprocably engaged about a stationary control rod 82 therein. The control rod 82 is ported and infrastructured to enable the compressed fluid to reciprocate the hammer in known manner, and alternately to exhaust through porting 84 in the distal end 86 of control rod. The fluid enters control rod through a port or ports in a spear-headed, piston-like cap 88 which is threaded onto the upper end of the casing and adapted to slidably engage with the wall of the bore of the pipe 2, as illustrated. The ports 90 are equipped with springloaded throttle valves 92 that operate to produce with spring-loaded throttle valves 92 that operate to produce a pressure drop between the upper and lower sides of the drive means, so that the fluid can assist in seating the anvil on the shoulder 3 of the pipe.

The anvil is coupled to the hammer mechanism by telescopically engaging a threaded, two-part, inner ribbed collar 98 about the embossment 66 of the anvil 38, and flush-coupling the collar to the distal end of the casing 78, the inner circumferential rib 100 of the collar, meanwhile interengaging in the groove 68 of the embossment. The drive means is retracted from the rod by an overhead hoist, such as a standard wire-line retriever, the dogs 96 of which are engaged about the spearhead 94 of the cap.

During the drilling operation, the hammer 80 interfaces with the annulus 102 at the upper end of the anvil, and applies intermittent blows to the anvil, as the pipe 2 is rotated thereabout. Thus, the bit is continually advanced in the axial direction by the percussive effect of the hammer, and at the same time, is continually rotated by the pipe, so that the points 14 of the bit are reindexed with respect to the face of the excavation, each time that the hammer strikes. Moreover, due to the telescoping relationship between the tube 40 and the pipe, and the relatively reciprocable, swiveled relationship between the tube and the anvil the tube remains substantially stationary with respect to the pipe, as the pipe is rotated and advanced into the formation.

During the drilling operation, moreover, the exhaust porting 84 in the control rod is placed in communication with the passages 36, so as to exhaust the fluid about the bit. As seen, the distal end portion 86 of the control rod is slidably inserted in the bore 72 of the anvil; and in the bore, there is a series of symmetrically angularly spaced and outwardly slanted ports 104, which open to the underside of the anvil, opposite the chamber 106 which is formed between the head 44 of the tube and the anvil. From there, the fluid enters a series of symmetrically angularly spaced flutes 108 in the bore 42 of the pipe, which commence below the level of the shoulder 3, and terminate in the distal end of the pipe, to communicate with the groove 30 and the ports 32 in the bit. In the engaged and socketed condition of the tube 40, the open sides of the flutes are closed by the main body of the tube, and the socket 26 is occupied by the forward portion 40' thereof, so that the fluid can escape only through the ports 32. Until the tube is socketed in the bit, however, a portion of the fluid will discharge through the axial opening of the bit, so as to assist in flushing out any accumulated debris which would otherwise prevent the tube from seating in the socket of the bit.

Moreover, in such a case, the spring 52 will be compressed by the tube to the point where the bushing 46 of the swivel head engages the face of the anvil; and thereafter, when the hammer 80 is applied to the anvil, the force of the hammer will operate on the tube only, until the anvil re-engages the shoulder 3 of the pipe 2. Thus, the operator can be assured that the tube will be properly seated before the drilling operation is begun.

In the seating process, moreover, a passage 110 through the pin 48, assures that the tube 40 is also pressurized, so that the debris can move only in the direc tion outward through the clearance 34.

Of course, as drilling progresses, more and more sections are added to the drill pipe 2. If necessary or desired, the tube can be changed at the same time to account for wear of the inner points of the bit; or the bit can be changed; or both can be changed.

For overhead or sidewall drilling, the fluid may also be employed as a means of seating the drive means; as for example, where the drive means is run into the rod at a pressure below that at which the valves 92 open, and then the pressure is raised to open the valves and commence drilling.

Where it is desired to drill for a period without coring, a plug-like bit can be substituted for the core barreling tube, and interengaged either with the pipe or with the annular bit, to rotate conjointly with the same.

I claim:

1. A rotary drill rod comprising an elongated pipe having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough and an annular bit at the distal end thereof, the proximal end portion of the bore being adapted to slidably receive a piston-like means therein, but there being an annular shoulder about the periphery of the bore at the terminus of said portion to engage the means in the rod adjacent the bit, and means defining an annular seat about the periphery of the bore between the shoulder and the mouth of the bit, which is of lesser inside diameter than that of the shoulder, to engage an elongated member which is slidably inserted into the distal end portion of the bore through the opening of the shoulder when the piston-like means is engaged with the shoulder, the distal end portion of the bore having substantially the same diameter as the opening in the shoulder, but there being fluting in the peripheral wall of the bore, which extends generally longitudinally thereof between a point adjacent the shoulder and a point about the periphery of the seat, and porting in the body of the bit, which extends generally axially thereof between the fluting and the working face of the bit at the distal end thereof, to form a passage about the member through which fluid can be released into the working face of the bit from a point adjacent the opposite end of the member, said bit having a greater diameter than the pipe and being adapted so that the released fluid can discharge from the face of the bit toward the proximal end of the pipe on the opposite side of the pipe from the member.

2. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the pipe is operatively rotated, and the bit is engaged on the distal end of the pipe to rotate in conjunction therewith.

3. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the bit is rigidly connected to the distal end of the pipe.

4. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the seat is formed in the bit.

5. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the fluting opens into both the porting and the seat so that the fluid operates to flush the seat until the member is engaged there with.

6. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the bit is rigidly connected to the distal end of the pipe, and the seat takes the form of a conical socket at the juncture of the pipe and the bit, having mutually aligned series of relatively angularly spaced flutes and ports opening thereinto, and into one another, at the outer peripheral rim thereof.

7. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the fluting terminates short of the shoulder so that the passage and the shoulder are closed to one another.

8. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the bore has a series of rectilinear flutes which are symmetrically angularly spaced about the peripheral wall thereof, and the bit has a series of symmetrically angularly spaced ports in the body thereof, which are mutually aligned with the flutes, but canted thereto.

9. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the bit is a percussive bit and has percussion points thereon which project relatively beyond the outer periphery thereof to enable the fluid to discharge therebetween. 

1. A rotary drill rod comprising an elongated pipe having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough and an annular bit at the distal end thereof, the proximal end portion of the bore being adapted to slidably receive a piston-like means therein, but there being an annular shoulder about the periphery of the bore at the terminus of said portion to engage the means in the rod adjacent the bit, and means defining an annular seat about the periphery of the bore between the shoulder and the mouth of the bit, which is of lesser inside diameter than that of the shoulder, to engage an elongated member which is slidably inserted into the distal end portion of the bore through the opening of the shoulder when the piston-like means is engaged with the shoulder, the distal end portion of the bore having substantially the same diameter as the opening in the shoulder, but there being fluting in the peripheral wall of the bore, which extends generally longitudinally thereof between a point adjacent the shoulder and a point about the periphery of the seat, and porting in the body of the bit, which extends generally axially thereof between the fluting and the working face of the bit at the distal end thereof, to form a passage about the member through which fluid can be released into the working face of the bit from a point adjacent the opposite end of the member, said bit having a greater diameter than the pipe and being adapted so that the released fluid can discharge from the face of the bit toward the proximal end of the pipe on the opposite side of the pipe from the member.
 2. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the pipe is operatively rotated, and the bit is engaged on the distal end of the pipe to rotate in conjunction therewith.
 3. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the bit is rigidly connected to the distal end of the pipe.
 4. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the seat is formed in the bit.
 5. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the fluting opens into both the porting and the seat so that the flUid operates to flush the seat until the member is engaged there with.
 6. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the bit is rigidly connected to the distal end of the pipe, and the seat takes the form of a conical socket at the juncture of the pipe and the bit, having mutually aligned series of relatively angularly spaced flutes and ports opening thereinto, and into one another, at the outer peripheral rim thereof.
 7. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the fluting terminates short of the shoulder so that the passage and the shoulder are closed to one another.
 8. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the bore has a series of rectilinear flutes which are symmetrically angularly spaced about the peripheral wall thereof, and the bit has a series of symmetrically angularly spaced ports in the body thereof, which are mutually aligned with the flutes, but canted thereto.
 9. The rotary drill rod according to claim 1 wherein the bit is a percussive bit and has percussion points thereon which project relatively beyond the outer periphery thereof to enable the fluid to discharge therebetween. 